Overview
This lecture covers IGCSE First Language English Paper 2 Section A: Directed Writing, focusing on reading and writing strategies, evaluating arguments, and maximizing marks using question analysis and effective writing techniques.
Exam Overview & Structure
- Paper 2 is 50% of your IGCSE grade; Section A (Directed Writing) and Section B (Composition) each worth 40 marks.
- Spend one hour per section: 10 mins reading/planning, 45 mins writing, 5 mins proofreading for Section A.
- Section A involves writing (usually a letter, article, or speech) using information from two texts.
Understanding Directed Writing Tasks
- Your article should address both bullet points from the question and use content from both texts, rephrased in your own words.
- Cambridge often expects you to argue a particular perspective; analyze question phrasing for clues.
- The central debate often contrasts individual action vs. collective or systemic action.
Analyzing Source Texts
- Text A argues individual green shopping is inadequate; only large-scale collective action (laws, treaties) achieves real change.
- Text B claims that giving up hope is worse and emphasizes both individual and community actions, with school projects as examples.
- Effective answers extract explicit arguments and provide counter-arguments (evaluation), e.g., collective actions start with individuals.
Maximizing Reading (Content) Marks
- Summarize explicit points from both texts, directly relating to the question.
- Evaluation means providing effective counter-arguments and exploring implicit assumptions or limitations in each text.
- More evaluation points mean higher marks; at least one can move your mark up a whole band.
Writing (Expression) Strategies
- Organize paragraphs by theme/argument, not by the source texts' chronological order.
- Use VORPF: Voice (student), Audience (students, teachers, parents), Register (semi-formal, lively), Purpose (inform/persuade), Format (article).
- Maintain accurate spelling, punctuation, grammar, and avoid slang or made-up statistics.
- Effective magazine articles are semi-formal, engaging, and relevant, with references to school context and collective experience.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Directed Writing — Writing based on given texts, usually as an article, letter, or speech.
- Evaluation — Critically challenging or counter-arguing points made in a text.
- Explicit Detail — Clearly stated information or arguments found in the text.
- VORPF — Voice, Audience, Register, Purpose, Format: key questions to analyze before writing.
- Register — The level of formality and the tone appropriate for your task and audience.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice grouping arguments by theme from model texts.
- Highlight explicit ideas and write counter-arguments (evaluation) for both texts used in the exam.
- Review VORPF for any Directed Writing question.
- Avoid copying text; practice expressing ideas in your own words.